The Malta Motorsport Federation has invested countless hours of hard work into examining the potential of a multifunctional road safety and motorsport facility over these past few years. The realisation of this long-overdue road safety training centre together with a motorsport complex will help to reduce accidents and fatalities on our roads.
As soon as the authorities are ready to commit the required 40 hectares to develop an international-standard facility, the MMF is ready to carry out the necessary studies- Oliver Attard
Our proposal is to establish a multi-purpose road safety and motorsport facility in Malta. It will offer the highest standard educational programmes for users of all ages. This project is not only about road safety and motorsport. A large part of it is about making the best use of land to develop a multi-functional facility which will produce better drivers on our roads and reduce fatalities. It will serve the community by creating new jobs and contribute to create educational opportunities related to engineering and road testing.
As soon as the authorities are ready to commit the required 40 hectares to develop an international-standard facility, the MMF is ready to carry out the necessary studies. The MMF has already engaged with world-renowned international companies in circuit construction and motorsports management to undertake the project master plan and commercial feasibility studies. The federation has worked on the strategies, conceptual planning and feasibility of the development of this motoring complex with Peter Hansen, managing director of International Motorsport Management. We enjoyed the collaboration of Herman Tilke of Tilke GMBh, a world-renowned F1 architect, Frans Wurz and his son Alexander, the ex-Formula F1 driver, now racing in the FIA Endurance Championship which is part of the 24 Hours Le Mans.
As soon as land is allocated, the studies finalised and the required investors identified, we will be on the right track to develop a facility with numerous spill-over effects into sectors like hospitality. It will do wonders for motorsport, a discipline Maltese drivers and racing teams are already obtaining remarkable results in – despite limited resources.
There is a whole collection of ideas attached to this project – creating exciting jobs, attracting international events, generating niche tourism, developing an offering for testing facilities to professional racing teams in the winter, and for training facilities for aspiring racing drivers. The possibilities are endless, although some ideas are more challenging to realise than others.
The MMF is affiliated to the FIA which has its own Action For Road Safety campaign. For this reason, it is promoting a multifunctional road safety training centre combined with a motorsport complex. It will be used to teach new drivers in a very challenging but safe area – the best way to learn driving manoeuvres in an enclosed environment.
Our roads do not offer the ideal environment to learners, instructors and other road users, especially in poor weather conditions – sometimes tuition is cancelled altogether and business is lost. Driving instructors have no facilities, other than public roads, where they can teach people to drive around cones and park – but that’s all.
It is fundamental that, in order to obtain a driving licence, a certain amount of time is spent on a driving course in a purpose-built facility where people can learn defensive driving safely, and understand how a vehicle reacts in different conditions.
In May 2010, the United Nations declared a Decade of Action to reduce road fatalities. It estimates that if nothing is done, the number of road fatalities will surpass deaths caused by malaria in less than 10 years’ time. Every three minutes, a child dies on the road somewhere in the world.
Road accidents can be costly both in money and traumatic terms. Hospitalisation and insurance translate into direct and indirect cost to society and people. It is society’s and the Government’s responsibility to do something about it.
The MMF has held various consultation meetings and has managed to win the support of numerous entities like the Malta Insurance Association, and the Associations of Driving Schools, Cars, and Bikes. We are aware that Transport Malta is interested in this project as it has been discussing issues surrounding a suitable location for driving tuition with the Association of Driving Instructors.
This association too is looking forward to having proper, safe teaching facilities. The MMF and its supporters know that this project will definitely improve the quality of driving in Malta, and reduce mortality and casualty rates.
Top level meetings have also been held with the political parties. It has already been reported that the Nationalist Party has included this project in its electoral manifesto after meetings held with deputy leader Simon Busuttil and secretary general Paul Borg Oliver.
Labour Party leader Joseph Muscat has expressed full support to this project. AD deputy leader Carmel Cacopardo described this project as very beneficial to the community and is supporting it too.
Road safety is no accident and we must act now.
secretary@maltamotorsport.org
Oliver Attard is the Malta Motorsport Federation’s general secretary.